Photo: Earl Gardner

Last Sunday, the Philadelphia Union finally ended their five game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over their Eastern Conference rivals, DC United. The effort came thanks to a number of performances that left PSP’s writers with a surplus of choices for the player of the week award, an issue that will hopefully arise more often this season.

Zach Pfeffer has seen his role dramatically increase in 2015 thanks to his own development in addition to an series of injuries and suspensions throughout the team. He has done well with his opportunities, earning high praise from his coach and teammates alike while playing multiple positions across midfield and scoring two goals in his nine appearances (one of which went in off his backside thanks to Eric Ayuk). In the process, Pfeffer has displayed a wide ranging skill set on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, a skill set that any coach would like to see in a utility player that regularly comes off the bench.

At only 20 years old, Zach has appeared in eighteen MLS games since his rookie year back in 2011, scoring three (again, Eric Ayuk) goals in addition to five appearances for the United States U-20’s, with whom he netted two goals and two assists.

But despite his early success, Pfeffer was the last man cut from the US U-20 roster thanks to the last minute inclusion of Gedion Zelalem, an Ethiopian-German-American midfielder who currently plays with Arsenal. As disappointing as this cut was, it has allowed Pfeffer to stay with the Union and help right the ship over the summer.

Pfeffer responded to his national team cut in the best way possible by scoring a 92nd minute winner after receiving a well-placed Fabinho cross that was dummied by Sebastien Le Toux before calmly controlling the ball and slotting it into the bottom left corner. It was a composed finish,and one that Philadelphia desperately needed, and we can only hope that this result will spur the team’s momentum going forward.

Honorable mention: Maurice Edu. A commanding presence in his return to the backline, he will be greatly missed when the Union travel to Red Bull Arena this weekend.